Can A Welder Afford Rent in Scotts Valley, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 87.7% of gross income.

Scotts Valley rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Scotts Valley median rent
$4,436/mo
Welder salary (California)
$60,664/yr
Rent as % of income
87.7%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,055, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,517/mo in rent. Scotts Valley's median rent of $4,436 exceeds that threshold by $2,919/mo, putting a welder salary into the rent-burdened range here. A welder works roughly 152.1 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a welder salary

Welder pay tracks the US median household income closely. Pipeline and underwater welders earn materially more. At the national-average welder salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,285 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These California cities have lower median rent than Scotts Valley, which improves the affordability math on a welder salary:

Truckee, CA
$4,435/mo (87.7% of income)
Beverly Hills, CA
$4,433/mo (87.7% of income)
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
$4,433/mo (87.7% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Scotts Valley

View full rent data for Scotts Valley, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a welder afford rent in Scotts Valley, CA?

Median rent in Scotts Valley is $4,436 a month. A typical welder in California earns about $60,664 a year, which makes that rent 87.7% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a welder afford in Scotts Valley?

Using the 30% rule, a welder salary in California (~$60,664/yr) supports up to $1,517 a month in rent. Scotts Valley's current median rent is $4,436/mo, which is $2,919/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a welder work to cover rent in Scotts Valley?

At an hourly equivalent of about $29 an hour, a welder in California works roughly 152.1 hours a month to cover Scotts Valley's median rent of $4,436.

Where is rent cheaper than Scotts Valley for a welder?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include Truckee ($4,435/mo), Beverly Hills ($4,433/mo), Rancho Palos Verdes ($4,433/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a welder salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived California state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Scotts Valley, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.